Clean-cut Environment Minister David Miliband will get his hands dirty at a recycling plant, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain will do a hands-on job in a steering wheel factory and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will attempt to help underprivileged children.

The weekly newspaper said it was the brainwave idea of Hazel Blears, the chairman of Prime Minister Tony Blair's governing Labour Party, to provide some light relief at what is expected to be a turbulent annual conference later this month.

Ministers were said to be keen to prove their "in touch" credentials, with Jowell apparently relishing the challenge.

An unnamed culture department source told The Sunday Times: "She's been doing it all week. She's scarcely been in the office. If Tessa's example is anything to go by, they are throwing themselves at in enthusiastically. The aim was to get most of the cabinet involved."